Tuckasegee River

The Tuckasegee River is by far our biggest river. It will often amaze clients that a river this wide exists in the East. At over 100 yards wide in places, it seems to belong in another region. Up-Close Outfitters Fly Fishing guides fishing trips here year-round, with both float trips and wade trips available. Trout average 9-12 inches with the possibility for much larger Brown and Rainbow Trout.

The “Tuck” is a heavily stocked river with more than 60,000 trout stocked in Jackson and Swain counties alone. When spring arrives, the river really comes to life with excellent dry fly patterns emerging, such as the cadis fly hatches. During the remainder of the year, terrestrials and streamers produce well here.

One great thing about the Tuckasegee River is that it is perfectly suited for beginners to learn to fly fish. The casting is easy, with no trees or other snags to tangle the line. The Tuckasegee River is about an hour’s drive from Hendersonville.